Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Letters on LGBT and Kansas fantasyland, Crusades, free-enterprise government

Kansans living in fantasyland

While we in Northern California have been accused of living in a bubble, it is clear to me that it is Kansans, and not us, who live in fantasyland.

Cutting taxes drastically and expecting more revenue because businesses would flock to Kansas was a stupid plan and did not show results. Yet you selected Sam Brownback again. Kansans presumably want good public schools, and yet you elect a governor who cuts money for them.

You don’t respect a woman’s right to medical privacy, and this week your governor gutted protections for state workers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. If you wanted to discourage new businesses from coming, disrespecting women and the LGBT community are great places to start.

RUTH DELL

Kentfield, Calif.

Crusade atrocities

President Obama’s mention of the Crusades during the National Prayer Breakfast was very unfortunate as it re-enforces many Muslims’ feeling of being victims and keeps the urge for retribution going. Even though the Crusades happened 800 to 950 years ago, to the many Muslims it might as well have been happening last year.

The atrocities committed by the first crusade are well-documented. As a matter of fact, the Jews felt so threatened that at one time they joined the Muslims in their fight against the crusaders. However, we should not forget that Pope Urban II called for a crusade because Muslims had conquered the holy places in Palestine and were reportedly torturing Christian pilgrims. The Crusades, however, ended with a complete victory for the Muslims in spite of early successes by the crusaders.

WILLEM TRAVAILLE

Wichita

Right the ship

Kudos to the free-enterprise, market-driven Sedgwick County Commission. Do “we the people” dare hope for like-mindedness in our next mayor and Wichita City Council representatives?

What an opportunity for Wichita to set an example and stand out against the national surge to use anti-free-enterprise, tax-based support to regenerate a city. If a business is meant to succeed, it will within the natural laws of supply and demand and the free-enterprise system.

Let’s right the ship while there’s still time.

RAY MENGELKOCH

Wichita

Letters to the Editor

Include your full name, home address and phone number. Letters are edited for clarity and length; 200 words or fewer are best. Letters may be published in any format and become the property of The Eagle.

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Wichita Eagle, 825 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67202

E-mail: letters@wichitaeagle.com

Fax: 316-269-6799

This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on LGBT and Kansas fantasyland, Crusades, free-enterprise government."

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